SONiA and disappear fearDF05 LiVEThere is exuberance and passion shining from Sonia Rutstein (SONiA) that warms an audience with good nature and humanity. For SONiA’s devotees a live album becomes a chance to bask in the life force that energizes her songs. “The act” is real. She is real. SONiA cares and wants us to care about issues that bruise and abuse. Her music contains spirited protest updated for today’s ears with charm and a touch of gl-amore. This album does not disappoint. On this, her tenth release SONiA rocks with her new band DF05. Here SONiA’s expressive singing exhibits flirtatious nuance and thoughtfulness as well as the resounding echo of our tradition of meaningful folk singing. After a number of transformations with the group disappear fear (periods with and without her sister Cindy Frank who here adds her angelic voice to the Kerrville Festival cuts), and after a fair amount of touring as a solo artist, SONiA is yet again “enlivened.” Recorded on tour at various venues including Lestat in San Diego, Canal St. Tavern in Dayton, the Kerrville and High Sierra Festivals and the Bluebird Café in Nashville, some of the songs are familiar yet are less studio restrained. The songs such as “No Bomb is Smart,” “Me Too,” and “Fallin’” are personal, yet could be sung by others. Also here is SONiA’s superb rendition of Phil Och’s “Is There Anybody Here.” New band members Laura Cerulli (JAH) on percussion and vocals and Angela Edge (Oxygen) on bass and trumpet plus those sisterly contributions from CiNDY, and air…a key ingredient that makes the performance pop out between the speakers. This one is a winner. Super music and a great CD introduction to folks you will want to catch live. – Roger Deitz |